Become a “Guardian of the Taunton River Watershed!”
Join our Water Quality Monitoring Testing Team.

No prior technical experience is necessary! Qualifications: A sense of adventure, a vehicle, and a desire to make a difference!

We are looking for volunteers willing to be available on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from March to November between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. to collect water samples and record basic observations at various stream sites on the Taunton River and its major tributaries. The water samples are then driven to the Taunton Waste Water Treatment Plant to be dropped off at the Veolia Lab for processing by 8:30 a.m. Most of our current 20 testing sites already have a volunteer assigned to perform the monthly tests. Our greatest need right now is for a complete set of back up testers for each site who would be willing to cover for the regular testers when there are vacations, appointments or last minute vehicle emergencies. We try to match up volunteers with sites in their geographic area. Currently, we are testing in Berkley, Bridgewater, Dighton, Middleboro, Raynham, and Taunton. Check out our website for a complete list of the sites. As a back up tester, depending on how many sites you volunteer to back up, you may be called upon once or twice a season to perform sampling. Its a great way to “try out” some environmental activism!

The TRWA has been collecting data on the health of the Taunton River and its tributaries for 30 years. Keeping this data set running is important. It is an incredible tool for scientists, legislators, and environmental regulators–a snapshot of the river’s health and a record of environmental changes over time–and you can play a part in ensuring the continued study of this waterbody. Plug in! Make a difference!

The Taunton River Watershed Alliance (TRWA) is pleased to announce the release of its Annual Taunton River Tide calendar. For our eighth year running, the TRWA has published a yearly calendar with tidal data for the Taunton River along with the winning images of the TRWA’s Calendar Photography Contest.

Berkley resident David Ennis captured the cover spot this year with his image “Bald Eagle on the Taunton River.” He is the very first TRWA calendar photographer to win the cover spot for a second time; his “King of the Hill” shot of ospreys in territorial displays was featured on the 2016 cover. An avid photographer, he can be found chasing birds of prey from Middleborough to Dighton.

Pictures are of the wild life and scenery within the Taunton River Watershed, 562 square miles in all of or part of 43 Southeastern Massachusetts cities and towns.

Calendars are available now print-on-demand through this link. The TRWA is excited to use all the options of this new technology. Calendars can be printed from any month in the year with the tide data from the Taunton River or any other of the 3,500 NOAA tide stations. People purchasing the calendar can even customize their calendar with their own photographs. Half the proceeds from the $19.99 purchase price goes directly to the TRWA to support its ongoing mission protecting and restoring the Taunton River watershed, its tributaries, wetlands, floodplains, river corridors and wildlife.

The TRWA will be publishing another calendar in 2019 and the submission period for that calendar contest is now open. Click here to jump over to the contest page and download contest submission guidelines.

For 30 years, TRWA has been a voice for the river, an advocate for environmental protection, sustainable development and responsible stewardship of our precious water resources. We are an Alliance of concerned residents, businesses, and organizations united to restore and properly manage water and related natural resources within the Taunton River Watershed.

The TRWA publishes a calendar with the local Taunton River Tides. It features the photography of our annual photography contest winners. Copies are on sale in the Fall of every year at the TRWA offices and sponsored events and online.

Thanks to the flexibility of print-on-demand technology, you can order one of our 2018 Tide Calendars year round and have it start in January, or July, or August, or whichever month you choose.

Calendars cost $19.99 including shipping and handling. Of that cost, $10 goes directly to the TRWA.

The Fall TRWA kayak and canoe trip was a great day on the river for twenty TRWA members and friends. Everyone who participated had a great time and expressed an interest in our trips next year. We typically sponsor an overnight trip the second Saturday and Sunday, in June the weekend before Father’s Day (participants can do either or both days, camping out is optional). We also do a Fall trip usually the Sunday after Columbus Day. Mark your calendars for next year and keep an eye out for our confirmatory announcements!

You’re invited to join the Taunton River Watershed Alliance (TRWA) for a canoe/kayak trip on the Taunton River to enjoy the peak fall foliage. The date is Sunday, October 15. The trip will begin at 10 a.m. at the South Street East river crossing on the Raynham/East Taunton line (check-in at 9:30). It will end approximately four hours later (2 p.m.) at Weir Riverfront Park on East Water Street in Taunton. Click here for registration information.

In June 2017, Mass Audubon and the Taunton River Watershed Alliance released Stream Continuity Assessment in the Taunton Watershed a report detailing the findings of more than 500 stream crossing assessments in the Taunton River watershed. The River and Stream Continuity Project was a joint effort of the University of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, the Nature Conservancy and American Rivers. The Project developed a system to assess stream crossings and determine the extent to which each one created a barrier to aquatic passage and natural water flow. The database generated an “Aquatic Score” that represented the degree to which that crossing creates a barrier. Crossings were ranked as “severe,” “significant,” “moderate,” “minor” or “insignificant” barriers to passage. The report with its three Appendices are available on the Mass Audubon website.

On July 16th, TRWA, the Mass Wildlife Angler Education Program, and the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation teamed up to create a day of local cultural and natural history. Dozens of Dighton Rock State Park visitors learned about Taunton River biodiversity, explored the Dighton Rock Museum, and got a fishing lesson (and loaner tackle if needed) while enjoying a beautiful day along the river.

We’re taking submissions from all, amateur and professional, young and old alike. Photographs must be of wild life, scenery, agricultural use, archaeological resources, or recreational activities SHOT WITHIN the Taunton River Watershed related to water use and conservation in the watershed. We love seasonal shots and prefer shots with a landscape orientation. For more information, download our 2019_calendar_submission_guidelines.

Please note, photographs must be taken within the last five years and must be the sole property of the submitting party. Winners receive a complimentary copy of the Annual Tide Calendar.

A few of the pictures from our 2018 calendar:

Don’t forget to visit the What’s Happening – Events section of the website to see the information on upcoming events and urge friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues who you think might be interested to do the same:

Music in the Grove – Sunday, May 28th, 2-5 at Boyden Refuge;

Overnight Canoe/Kayak Trip – June 10-11 (or either day as a single day trip);

Angler Education / Family Fishing Day – Sunday, July 16th at Dighton Rock State Park;